Signaling system



R. M. HOPK|NS. SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 20| 1916.

1,849,961 Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I g I Q QHQ .I I I VENTOR. 5% WITNESSES: I W N W a 7 BY WA {MM -A TTO RNEY R. M. HOPKINS.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1916.

1,349,961 Patented Aug. 17, 1920.7

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Y INVENTOR. Www BY ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD M. HOPKINS, or NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNQR T0 AMERICAN DISTRICT TELEGRAPH COMPANY, or JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF,

NEW JERSEY.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application filed October 20, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. HOPKINS,

a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York, county of New York, and Stateof New York, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to signaling systems, and particularly to systems wherein one or more call boxes, thermostats, burglar alarms, or other transmitting devices are to cause the operation of signal giving devices; and in its particular application herein principally described, my invention comprises an improvement upon, and addition to, a system set forth in the companion application of Jose h F. D.

H oge, Serial No. 1241,4169, now atent No. 1,236,434, dated August 14, 1917.

The said Hoge system, the circuits of which are illustrated herein, is particularly intended for a fire alarm system to be used in large stores, warehouses, etc, where, in the event of a fire, alarms are to be sounded at a largenumber of different points. The

said Hoge system provides a plurality of circuits containing alarm giving devices, which circuits are normally in series relation, in order that'they may be under test normally, means being provided, however, for switching such circuits, automatically, into multiple relation with the source of current supply, so that derangement of one such circuit shall not prevent operation of the other circuits, and so that there shall be ample current in each circuit for the operation of the alarm giving devices thereof. According to the said Hoge system there is also provided a transmitter circuit, wherein is located one or more transmitters, automatic orv otherwise, and when one of these transmitters operates the signal giving devices referred to are caused to operate. As will appear hereafter, this transmitter circuit is also normally under test.

In case of trouble developing in the transmitter circuit, for example, in the event of a'break or ground in that circuit, or inevent alarm giving devices, as well as a certain trouble indicating device, will all operate; but under such circumstances there is no necessity for continued operation of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920. Serial No. 126,649.

alarm giving devices. tion, therefore, comprises means whereby, in the event of trouble developing in the transmitter circuit, after a predetermined interval of time the operation of the alarm giving (l8V lC6S is stopped, without, however, stopping the operation of the trouble signal device, and whereby circuit conditions in the circuits other than the transmitter circuit in which the trouble developed, and in the trouble signal circuit, are then restored to normal.

The objects of my invention are to avoid continued operation of the alarm giving devices, due to trouble developed in the transmitter circuit, without discontinuing the operation of the trouble signal; to automatically restore to normal condition, after a predetermined interval of time, the circuitsof the system, other than the transmitter circuit in Which the trouble developed, and the trouble-signal circuit; and to accomplish the above objects in a simple manner and by reliable and relatively inexpensive means.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims. In said drawings:

Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically, an arrangement of circuits and apparatus embodying the said Hoge invention, with circuits and'apparatus embodying my invention added thereto; the break wheel and contact pen of the relay H being omitted to avoid confusion of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagram, on a larger scale, showing means for transmitting a signal to ,a central station in the event of trouble occurring in. the transmitter circuit.

Referring first to Fig. 1: V and G designate, respectively, incoming and outgoing current leads, of which G may be under stood to be' grounded and V may be understood to contain a grounded battery I); and A a multiple-contact relay which effects the switching from series to multiple, as before mentioned. T desi ates a transmitter circuit and F, F 2 and 3 designate respectively three circuits for alarm giving de- My present invenvices, which devices are designated by and F current supply'conductor V, and includes a resistance R and a suitable number of transmitters T These transmitters may be of any suitable type. Conveniently, they may be ordinarily hand-operated call boxes, connected'in series in the ranged when operated to successively open and close cir'uit T so as to send a definite signal, but they may also be automatically released or automatically operated transmitters of well known type, for example, transmitters which are thermostaticall controlled or thermostatically operate The particular type of transmitter employed is unimportant, so far as my present invention is concerned.

The alarm giving devices anysuitable type; conveniently, they may be electric bells, as indicated diagrammatically; but they may also be electric whistles, or buzzers, or any other devices suitable'for giving signals, either visual or audible;

The transmitter circuit T, besides including the transmitters T, as above stated, includes the magnet of the switching relay A, preferably located on the incoming si e of the circuit T. The normal or test circuit for the alarm giving circuits F F and F, is as follows From current supply conductor V through.

resistances R and 3*, to one-side of circuit F and through that circuit F and circuit F in series, to resistance R thence through resistance B, through circuit F and thence through the magnet of relay B and resistance R to the. other current supply con ductor G. Between resistances R and R I there is a current tap leading to back contact A of relay A. Between circuits F and F there is a current ta leading to back contact A oi relay A. etween resistances R and R {and therefore between circuits F there is. a current tap leading to contact A and from the return relay back circuit F there is a current tap side of the leading to relay backcontact A. The armature contacts a and a? are connected to current supply conductor V, and the armature contacts a and a are connected, preferably through a suitable resistance R, to return conductor G.

Trouble signal relay B controls, through a back contact, a trouble circuit containing a signal device (such for example as a bell) D, and a source of current supply 7 therefor. It will be clear that when the armature of relay B is released, the signal device I) will operate or sound.

From the foregoing it will be clear that, normally, circuits F F and F are in series relation with respect to conductors V and G,-a.nd therefore that in case of an interruption or ground in any one of these circuits, or in case the current supply falls below some predetermined value, the magnet circuit T, and ar-' F may be of any one of the of .relay B will be de'nergized, or at least, its magnetization will fall to so low a value, as to permit the release of the armature of that relay, with consequent closing of the circuit of the trouble signal device D, and the consequent giving of a trouble signal. Owlng to the relatively large resistance in this series circuit, due both to the length of the several circuits 1?, F and F comprising that circuit, and the resistance of the magnets of the bells or other signal giving devices included in that circuit, as well as to the various resistances R R R and li and R included in that series circuit, the current employed for testing will be very small. v

' In case an alarm be given by one of the transmitters T the magnet of relay A will be deenergized and the various armature contacts c -a will drop back and make contact with their various back contact stops A A so connecting .the several alarm giving'circuits, F F and F separately to the conductors V and G, as follows:

tacts a? and A and is connected with conductor G through contacts A and a It will thus .be seen that upon the operation of transmitters T each of the circuits F F and F is connected, independently of each of the other of said circuits, to conductors V and G, and each such circuit F F and F receives current of a strength determined by the reslstance 1n that circuit. The various resistances inch-- cated are regulating resistances, of values determined atthe time of installation, and are such that current of a strength required for the operation of the various signal giving devices F in each such circuit, will be supplied. It will be understood that the initial or test current, passing through such circuits when they are in series relation, is not sufficient to cause the operation of the various alarm giving devices F, but when the several circuits F, F and F are in multiple relation, the current received by such circuits will be ample to cause the operation of all of the devices F.

It will be obvious that in case circuit T should be broken or grounded between conductor V and the. point of connection of relay A to such circuit T, relay A will operate, so that this portion of circuit T is normally under test. It will be explained hereafter that, by means of the relay H, to be referred to hereafter, the trouble signal device 13- 1) is operated in the case of paratus (except relays .K

' To prevent this,

a ground in circuit T at a place between the polnt of connection of-relay A to that'circuit T, and the point of connection of relay K to that circuit. .The trouble signal device B-D therefore operates either in the event of a break or ground in one of the circuits F F and .F or in the circuit T, signal operates either then in the event of trouble in the circuit,

T, such as a break or ground orundue decrease of the current supplg to the circuit,,

the signal giving devices 'will continue in operation indefinitely, and undesirably.

relay H, in connection with another relay K, and circuits as will be described presently. The relay His represented diagrammatically as a relay in which, in event of deenergization of its magnet, clockwise rotation of its armature h will be 'causedby a -as a ratchet-driven gear train 71,

weight M; such clockwise rotation being retarded by a suitable retarding device such operating a fan It; and this armature also carries an arm h, which, in the early part of its clockwise movement, will permit closure of a contact 8 while later 1n its movement Wlll' cause the closing of a contact .9 The magnet of relay K is included in the transmitter circuit T, and a battery or other source of current supply, 1, is normally included in a circuit 2-3 passing through the armature and .front contact of relay K and through the magnets of relay H.

' When relays A and K are operated through the normal operation of one of the transmitters T the circuit of relay H is broken 'andagain completed at such short intervals that, although contact a is completed, and broken, in correspondence with the signal of the transmitter T operating, yet owing to the action of the train k and fan h, contact 8 is not completed. But in the event that a break occurs in circuit T, the magnets of relay H are denergized for a sufiicient time to per-.

mit the closing of contact .9 and a circuit is completed through conductor 10, contact a and conductor 11, which bridges or shunts the transmitters T thus cutting out the effect of a break in the transmitter circuit without energizing the magnet'of relay K. Also,.the magnet of relay A being again energized, as a result of the closing of contact 8, the armatures of that relay A are again attracted, and the various of that relay,

" of certain I provide a delay action retarding circuitsF F and F are restored automatically to their normalseries relation, and

the operation of the alarm devices F ceases. This automatic restoration is a feature of some importance, because, in certain alarm systems now' .in use the operation of the alarm givin devices, such as devices F, in the event 0 development of trouble in the transmitter circuit, results in the blowing fuses, or other derangement of apparatus which requires a visit of an attendant and manual repair. -According to my present invention, however, this is not necessary, because, as just explained, the instant the circuit T is completed by the relay. H through contact 8 the relay A is returned to normal condition automatically. Durlng the tlme that contact a is closed,-

a circuit is completed from battery 7 through signal device D, conductor 8, contact 8 and conductors '5 and 9-back to battery. The armature of relay against its back stop, completes thesame clrcuit through signal device D, through circuit branches 2, 6, and 4; the armature and rear contact of relay K being connected in multiple with contact 8 It is desirable in many cases to .transmit a signal to a central station when trouble has developed. To this end asuitable break wheeland pen may be providedon the relay H. One type of alarm transmitter T commonly used in) the circuits of this system, comprises means for sending a signal to a central station, as well as means for operating the circuit T to cause the operation of the signal devices F. Without limit: ing myself to details of construction, in Fig. 2 I have indicated, diagrammatically, an arrangement of break wheels and contact pens which may be emplo ed in such a -K when.

transmitter; 12 designating t ebreak wheel,

and 13 the corresponding contact pen, for circuit T, and 14 designating the break wheel and 15 and 16 contact pens, for the central station circuit 17. I have not shown the clock train 'for driving these break wheels, but it may be assumed that the clock train of an ordinary call box is used for the purpose. Likewise, in Fig. 2 the break wheels are shown as of different diameters,

v for convenience in illustration only. It will be clear that when the transmitter to which these break wheels belong is operated, not,

only will the break wheel 12 and pen 13 break and close the circuit T in-accordance with the signal to be transmitted, but also that break wheel 14 and pens 15 and 16 will alternately break and close central station circuit 17 in accordance with the signal to be transmitted through that circuit.

Now, in order that relay H, when operated by something other than an ordinary signal, may transmit a signal'through the circuit 17 that relay H is provided with a construction shown, gear-connected to the armature shaft'of the relay by gears 21 and Y22; and'when the relay is in normal condition, the end of the pen 19 is at such distance from the beginning of the signaltoothed portion of break wheel 18, that small motions of the armature of the relay, such of the'trans-' bring the toothed por-' tion of the break wheel opposite the pen 19 while,

as are due to normal operation mltters T do not hand, a more prolonged such on the other motion of the armature of: the relay, as is due to a break, circuit T, causes'the teeth of this break wheel to pass the pen 19, so sending the signal of that break wheel through the cit cuit 17.

In the event out a ground in circuit T, beyond the point of connection of rela A to that circuit T, the magnet of relay 1 is deenergized, with resulting deenergization of the magnet (if rela y'H, and resulting closing of contact 8 which causes the operation of the trouble signal D and also the sending of a signal, by relay H, through circult 17.

"It will thus be seenthat not only is a trouble signal given in the event of a break or ground in any of the circuits F F and F3 in the event of a break or c the repair bf a break or ground in circuit the magne'tof relay K is again'energized automatically with resulting automatic restoration of relay H. Therefore there is nothing in this system requiring ration by anbreak or ground. The apparatus is in all respects self restoring.

l Vhat I claim is 4 1. In a signaling system, the combination with a source of current supply and a transmitter circuit containing one or more transmitters, of a signal giving circuit including one or more signal-giving devices, means controlled by said transmitter circuit and controlling said signal-giving circuit and arranged to cause the signal-giving device or devices to operate in the event of operation of one of the said transmitters, means for passing a low test current nal-giving circuit normally, device arranged to operate in' the event of substantial or complete failure of said test current, and means controlled by said transmitter circuit and also controlling said trouble signal device and arranged to stop the operation of said signal-giving device or de' vices and to cause the operation'of said trouble signal device, in the event of development of trouble in the transmitter circuit.

short-or ground in the but also that a trouble signal'is given I.

ground in ciruit T.

It will further be understood that upon manual resto-r attendant after repai'not a through said sig-- a trouble signal f 2. In signaling system, the combination I with a source of current supply and a transr mitter circuit containing-one or more transmitters-of a signal-giving clrcult including one or more-*signal-gwing devices, means controlled'by said transmltter circuit and controllingsaid signal-giving circuit and arranged tocause'the signal-giving device or devices to operate in the event of. operation of one of said transmitters, and means controlled by said transmitter circuit for closing a shunt around said transmitters. in the event of development of trouble in the POT.

tion of the transmitter circuit included between the ends of such shunt connection.

3. In a signaling system, the combination with a source of current supply and a trans- -mitter circuit containing one or more trans. mitters, of a signal-giving circuit including one or more signal-giving devices, means controlled by said transmitter circuit and controlling said arranged to cause the signal-giving device or devices to operate in the event of operation. of one of said transmitters, a trouble signal device and means controlled by said transmitter circuit and comprising a delay action relay arranged to close a shunt around said transmitter or transmitters, cause the operation-of such trouble signal device, in the event of development of trouble in the transmitter circuit. 7 4. In a signaling system, the combination with a source of current supply and a transmitter circuit one or more signal-giving devices, means controlled by said transmitter circuit and controlling said signal-giving circuit and arof one of saidstransmitters, .a trouble signal device, a relay included in said transmitter circuit and arranged to' be operated by the operation of a transmitter in such circuit or by development of trouble in such circuit, and a delay action relay controlledby-said first mentioned relay and arranged to'close a shunt around such transmitter or transmitters inthe event ruption or grounding of such transmitter circuit and also in such event to cause the operation of said trouble signal device.

5. In a signaling system, the combination with a source of current suppiy and a transmitter circuit including one or more trans mitters, of a signal-giving circuitincluding one or more signal-giving devices, a trouble signal relay included in that circuit, means actuated by the transmitter circuit for causing the operation of said signal giving devices and said trouble relay in the event of troublei'n the transmitter circuit or in the event of operation of one of the transmitters therein, a trouble signal device and a circuit containing one or more trans- T4 mltters, of a signal-givlng circuit includlng of prolonged inter- .L

signal-giving circuit and Y and also to therefor arranged to be operated by said mitter circuit containing one or more trans-' mitters, of a signal-giving circuit including one or more signal-giving devices, means controlled by said transmitter circuit and controlling said signal-giving circuit and arranged to cause the signal-givin device or devices to operate in the event 0 operation of one of saldtransmitters, a trouble-signal device, and means controlled by said transmitter circuit and comprising a delay action relay arranged to close a shunt around said transmitter or transmitters, and also to cause the operation of such trouble signal device, in the event of development of trouble in the transmitter circuit, said relay comprising transmitting means arranged to transmit a signal in the event of development of trouble in the transmitter circuit.

7. In a signaling system, the combination with a source of current supply, a transmitter circuitcontaining one or more transmitters, and a further signal circuit, likewise containing such transmitters, said transmitters arranged to transmit signals through both such circuits when operated, of a signalgiving circuit including one or more signa1- giving devices, means controlled by said transmitter circuit, and controlling such signal-giving circuit, and arranged to cause the signal-giving device or devices to operate in the event of operation of one of said transmitters, and means controlled by said transmitter circuit and arranged to stop the operation of said signaliving device or devlces, and also to transmit a signal through such further signal circuit, in the development of trouble in the transmitter circuit.

8; In a signalin system, the combination with a plurality o transmitters, each adapted for transmltting signals simultaneously through two separate circuits, a transmitter circuit and a further signal circuit, through which such transmitters may send signals, and a source of current supply for said transmitter circuit, ofa signal-giving circuit including one or more signal-giving devices, means-controlled by said transmitter circuit and arranged to cause the signal-giving device or devices to operate in the event of operation of one of said transmitters, and a delay action relay controlled by said transmitter circuit, and arranged to stop the operation of said signal-giving device or de vices, after a predetermined interval of time, and also to send a signal through such further signal circuit in the event of development 0 trouble in the transmitter circuit.

' In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib ing witnesses.

RICHARD M. HOPKINS. Witnesses:

GRACE HILDEBRAN'I', CATHERINE J. FLEMING. 

